Fluid transmission



Nov. 28, 1944. M w. F LM RE 2,363,952

FLUID TRANSMIS S ION Filed June 15, 1942 INVENTOR 5mm? M 14 F/uMa/M BY mw M F 4 ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 28, g

attests rwmmansmssron Baxter-MW.

Fillmore, I Vancouver. British Canada 1 Application June is, 194:,Serial No. use

i s Claims. (01. 60-54) This invention relates to fluid powertransmissions and particularly to automatic ti-ansmissions forautomotive vehicles;

One object of the invention is a transmission embodying an automaticfluid clutch of novel and improved construction and operation where-'-by at a predeterminedidling speed of the motor no torque is transmittedbut with increased speed under the control of the operator poweristrans- I mitted, with the correct amount of powerflbeing to the shaft2. The other part of the divided casing-has a cylindricalpart 3,anenddisk part Ohaving a sleeve Ill iournaled upon the shaft 3 through thebearing element and a flange part I] which is fastened to an abuttingflange l2 formed on the casing part 4 by means of the bolts l3. Fluidsuch as oil is contained in the always automatically adjusted responsiveto the load.

A further object of the invention is a novelandv improved fluidtransmission clutch of the above indicated character, which ischaracterized by its eificiency and economy of operation and by theminimum of strains and stresses imposed on the parts thereof.

A further object of the invention is an automatic' clutch of the aboveindicated character, which is characterized by a minimum of wear on itsparts and by the facility and economy with which it may be-maintained. a

A further object of the invention is an automatic clutch of the aboveindicated character wherein certain elements of the fluid clutchtransmission serve the purpose of a fly-wheel of the motor as well asthat of torque transmission,

and an important feature of the. transmission -as applied to automotivevehicular use is that free wheeling is obtained at the desired lowspeeds with simplicity and marked effectiveness.

Further objects of the invention will hereinafter appear.

For a better understanding of the invention,

reference may be had to the accompanying drawing illustrating oneembodiment of the invention.

' Referring to the drawing, I have illustrated the invention as embodiedin a fluid transmission clutch l for transmitting power between a driveshaft 2 and a driven shaft 3. The transmission I is particularlysuitable for transmissions for automotive vehicles although certainfeatures.

thereof are useful in other applications. As applied to automotivevehicular use the shaft 2. may

I be the driven member, driven for example by an internal combustionengine, omitted for convenience in illustration, while the shaft 3 maydrive the wheels of the car which are also omitted for convenience.

Thetransniission embodies aciosed casing'd vided into two parts, acylindrical part 4 formed integrally with an end closing disk! with theV latter fastened as by bolts 3 to a huh I keyed casing and if thebearing element I 0' is insuflicient to seal against leakage through thesleeve ll any suitable oradditional oil sealing means l4 may be providedfor this purpose. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the shaft 3is provided with a reduced end 3' which is iournaled in a suitablebearing element I! carried by the casing-element 4, I. L

The clutch'embodies three sets of fluid pressure blade elements,propeller elements it and I! which are driven in unison with the driveshaft 2 and propeller element It (duplex) which is driven by or withshaft 3 and is also mounted for freeaxial movement thereon. When theshaft 2 is the drive shaft the elements I3, I! are the impeller and theelement l3 the runner. One set i3 surrounds the bearing element i5 andis carried by and in fixed relation to the casing element 4, I. Theelement I1 is also carried by the casing element 4 for rotationtherewith but is adiustabiy mounted-for movement toward and away fromthe element l3. The element I1 is carried by a disk l9 which is joumaledon the shaft 3 by means of the bearing element 20. The

element l1 and the disk l3 form a unit and are splined to the interiorof the casing 4 for sliding movement axially of the shaft 3, the casing4 being provided with spline tracks 21, along which tracks are guidedlugs 22 formed on the peripheral edge of the disk i3. The element i1 isadjusted axially of the shaft 3 with respect to an axially movableelement l8 and the element II in response to the speed of the primemover as, for example, an internal combustion engine or other motordriving the shaft 2. The arrangement is such that at low orpredetermined speeds the element I1 is spaced far enough from the unitI3 and the relatively fixed element ii to avoid transmission of torqueor power. This control is in response to the speed of the engine whichis effected in the particular embodiment shown by a pair of speedresponsive centrifugal weights 23 operating in opposition to a pair ofsprings 24. The centrifugal weights 23 are pivthese levers are connectedby means of links 23 with lugs 23 carried by the disk IS. The springs 24are attached at one end-to lugs 30 fastened to the interior of the casig part 9 and at their other end to lugs 3i fastened to the disk I 9.These springs 24 tend to hold or retain the blades II in the full lineposition indicated in the drawing,

but when the engine or motor speeds up, the

centrifugal weights 23 respond to the increased .speed by outwardmovementabout the pivots- 25,-

, aseaoss tically no slipi s e in the clutch undernormal load. With thisarrangement, free idling speed of the motor is. effected and the exactand correct amount of .power is required or used to move a given load.No: power is therefore wasted. Uri-- due strains on the powertransmission are thereby obviated, the mechanism is simple and has a rminimum of wearing parts, and the rotating caswhich outward movementthrough the bell crank I levers 21 and links 28 moves the element," to

the left in opposition to the springs 24. The-element i8 is in duplicatewith its parts, disposed on the opposite sides ofa central disk 32having' a hub 33 splined to the shaft 3 for rotation with the shaft; butthe spli'ning is loosely effected so as to permit the blade unit i8readily to take up different positions longitudinally of the shaft 3between the two sets of elements and IL,

This splining of the hub 33 on the shaft 3 is indicated at 34 and 35and'through this splining the unit l8 floats back and forth toward andaway from the elements J6 and'iL- For facilitating the free and:unimpeded movement of the floating unit 18 and thejmovable element I!the disk 32 is provided with-fluid communicating passages 36 andthejdisk I9 is provided with fluid transmitting passages 131', Ifdesired. the unit l'i' may be provided with clearances at its peripheryas shown through which the fluid may pass from one side to the otherthereof. Some clearan e is also provided at the periphery of the disk l9'through which the fluid may escape.

over toward the blades l6 and I8.

The operation of the automatic clutch is as follows: a

When the motor, engine or other prime mover is idling, the blade unit I!is then moved over toward the ri ht by the springs 24 so as to withdrawthe blades l'I out of torque transmitting relation withthe blades 18-and I 8. Upon increase of'speed, however. the prime mover and thecentrifugal weights 23 res ond to this increase in speed by movingoutwardly and thereby through the linkages described moving the bladesI! toward the blades l8 and IE to decrease the distance between thesesets of blades,

With this increase in speed and movement of the blades l'l toward theleft, the rotating casing begins to transmit power or torque to theblades I 8. If .the torque transmitted to the blades I8 is insufllcientto rotate the driven shaft 3, a greater torque may be transmitted bystill further increasing the speed of the engine and thereby causing theblades I! to move closer to the blades 18 and I 8; The startingoperation continues until the power of the motor has ing functions bothas a transmission casing and as a fly wheel. These results are effectedthrough the provision of the floating unit ll between the relativelymovable blade units It and II, with the unit l'l operated responsivelyto the speed 5 I of the prime mover, as shown and described.

. by the drive shaft and Journaled upon said 1. In a fluid transmissionsystem, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, said shafts being axiallydisposed, a fluid casing fastened to and driven driven shaft, two fluidimpeller elements carried by and mounted within said fluid casing,

one of said impelle elements being fixed to the a casing. the other ofsaid impeller elements being spaced from the flrst and splined to rotate'with the casing but mounted for movement towards and away from theflxed impeller element,

a floating driven element disposed between the flrst named impellerelements and splined to the driven shaft for free axial movement thereonresponsive to fluid pressures and movements inside the casing, and meansfor moving the movable impelle element towards and away from thefloating element.

2. In a fluid transmission system, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, saidshafts being axially disposed, a fluid casing fastened to and driven bythe drive shaft and journaled upon said driven shaft, two fluid impellerelements carried by and mounted within said fluid casing, one of saidimpeller elements being spaced from the first and splined to rotate withthe casing but mounted for movement towards and away from the flxedimpeller element, a floating driven eleshaft, a driven shaft, saidshafts being axially ment disposed between the flrst named impellerelements and splined to the driven shaft for free axial movement thereonresponsive to fluid pressures and movement inside the casing. and meansfor moving the movable impeller element towards and awayfromthefloating' element, comprising actuating means responsive to thespeed of the driving shaft.

3. In a fluid transmission system, a drive disposed, a fluid casingfastened to and driven by the drive shaft and journaled upon said drivenshaft, two fluid impeller elements carried by and mountedv within saidfluid casing, one of said impeller elements being spaced from the firstand splined, to rotate with the casing but mounted for movementtowardsand away from the relatively fixed impeller element, a floating runnerelement disposed between the impeller elereached its maximum runningtorque output, at

which point the blades may be as close together as they are permitted inpractice, as for exampie, with a clearance between them of about .004

of an inch. At this'point there should be prac- 'ments and splined tothe driven shaft for free movement thereon responsive to fluid pressuresand movements inside the casing, and means for moving the movabledriving impeller element towards and away from the floating elementcomprising means tending to move the impeller element away from thefloating element and means responsive to the speed of the drive shaftfor moving the movable impeller element in opposi- Y tion to the flrstsaid means.

.4. In afluid transmission system, a driving -member,.'a driven member,a pair of blade ele- 76- ments rotating in-unison with one of said mem--bers, said elements being relatively movable toward and away from eachother, a floating blade element rotating in unison with the other ofsaid members, said floating element being disposed between and free totake up difl'erent positions relatively to the flrst named elements, andmeans responsiveto the operation of one of said members for causingrelative movement between the two first named elements.

5. In a fluid transmission system, a driving member, a driven member, apair of blade elements rotating in unison with one of said members, saidelements being relatively movable toward and away from each other, afloating blade element rotating in unison with the other of saidmembers, said floating element being disposed between the first namedelements and being freely movable toward and away from the same, andmeans responsive to the speed of the driving member for causing relativemovement between said two first named elements.

6. In a fluid transmission system, a drive member, a driven member, afluid casing driven by one of said members, a pair of spaced impellerelements rotating in unison with said fluid casing, one of said impellerelements being movabletowards and away from the other of said elements,a floating runner element disposed be.-

' tween said first named two impeller elements and rotating in unisonwith the other of said shafts, said "runner element having propellerblades facing respectively the first named two impeller elements andbeing freely movable towards and away therefrom, and means for movingthe first bers,said runner element having propeller blades facingrespectively the first named two impeller elements and being freelymovable towards and away therefrom, and means for moving the movableimpeller element with respect to the other impeller element, comprisingmeans acting in response to the rotation of the drive member.

8. In a fluid transmission system, a drive memher, a driven member, afluid casing rotating in unison with one of said members, a pair ofspaced impeller elements disposed in said casing and rotating in unisonwith one of said members, said impeller elements being relativelymovable towards and away from each other, a floating runner elementdisposed between said two im- Deller elements and rotating in unisonwith the other of said members, said runner element having propellerblades facing respectively the two impeller elements and being freelymovable to-' wards and away therefrom, and means for relatively movingsaid impeller elements and controlling the relative positions thereof.

BAXTER M. W. FIIJLMORE.

